Scotland's housing and homelessness leaders and senior academics will gather today to focus minds on meeting Scotland’s internationally acclaimed homelessness legislation.

The 'Delivering 2012' conference will focus on how Scotland will meet the homelessness commitment to give everyone the right to a home by 2012 and discuss new ideas around ending homelessness.

Leading the debate will be Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil MSP, who is expected to reinforce the government’s commitment to the 2012 target and outline priorities for the coming three years.

Other speakers will include Graeme Brown, Director, Shelter Scotland; Professor Isobel Anderson, Director, Housing Policy and Practice Unit at the University of Stirling; Jill Cronin, Policy and Strategy Manager, South Ayrshire Council; and Andrew Morrison, Director of Policy and Business Development, Orchard & Shipman plc.

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This is the third annual Shelter Scotland conference to chart the progress towards the homelessness commitment. Recent figures show that overall Scotland is making good progress towards 2012 but that there is work still to be done to make sure everyone has a home.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Graeme Brown, Director, Shelter Scotland, said: "These are tough economic times but it is during such times, that our mettle is shown. Scotland’s decision to end homelessness by 2012 received cross-party support when it was passed in the Scottish Parliament and that decision has shown us as world leaders in the fight against homelessness.

"A home for everyone is even more of a necessity as the housing crisis deepens during these tough times. That is why we need this conference to focus minds on how we meet the challenges of giving everyone, not just the right to a home, but the keys to one as well. The 2012 homelessness commitment can and will be met."

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "We are already investing £1.5 billion to build thousands of affordable homes and are providing significant funding to councils to help them provide a range of support services. In addition, we have invested £50 million to kick-start the largest council house building programme in Scotland for 30 years.

"But housing investment alone will not help us achieve the 2012 target .We also need to improve access to existing stock, improve joint working and crucially, work to prevent homelessness before it occurs."

(GK/KMcA)